POPE WILL TRAVEL TO ROMANIA FROM MAY 7 TO 9

VATICAN CITY, MAR 16, 1999 (VIS) - The following is the entire text of a communique made public today concerning the Holy Father's forthcoming trip to Romania, scheduled for May 7-9. The communique was signed by representatives of the Romanian presidency and government, by the patriarchate of the Romanian Church and by the Catholic Church.

"Following an exchange of letters between His Beatitude Teoctist, patriarch of the Rumanian Orthodox Church, and His Holiness John Paul II, and the subsequent meeting on March 15, 1999, of official representatives of the presidency and government, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, on the occasion of the visit by Holy See special envoy, Fr. Roberto Tucci, S.J, to Bucharest, it is announced that the Holy Father's visit to Romania will take place from May 7 to 9, 1999.

"The Holy Father's main engagements will be the following:

"Friday May 7: Official welcome at Bucharest's Baneasa airport, followed by a time of prayer at the Patriarchal Cathedral. On this first afternoon, the Supreme Pontiff will meet the Romanian Catholic episcopate. In the evening, there will be a visit to the Cotroceni Palace, where His Holiness will meet with the president of the Republic and other dignitaries.

"Saturday May 8: After a time of prayer at Belu Catholic cemetery, there will be Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral. In the afternoon, His Holiness John Paul II will meet His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist and some members from the Holy Synod, after which there will be a reception for the Holy Father at the Patriarchal Palace.

"Sunday May 9: A meeting will be held with the prime minister in the morning. There will then be a Mass with His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist and members of the Holy Synod, in the presence of His Holiness John Paul II. In the afternoon, the Supreme Pontiff will preside at the celebration of Catholic Mass, in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist. In the evening, there will be the official farewell ceremony for John Paul II at Bucharest's Baneasa airport.

"We hope that the Pope's visit be a sign of joy and hope for the Romanian people and for our churches, with ecumenical dialogue in view of bringing about the unity desired by Christ."

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